Hand tool for joining objects

ABSTRACT

A hand tool for assembling two or more articles along an extended plane. Arcuate motion of a movable handle is converted to axial movement of a presser plate to assemble the articles placed on an aligned platen. The movable handle controls a drive bar which is coupled to the tool frame by pivotally movable links which move the drive bar in two orthogonal directions and to the presser plate .[.to move it in two orthogonal directions.]. by means of pivotally movable links coupled to the drive bar. The .[.movements along one orthogonal axis cancel one another and the movements along the other orthogonal axis are cumulative whereby the.]. presser plate is moved only in the direction of the platen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention applies to hand tools for assembling two or more articlesalong an extended plane and, more particularly, to a hand tool forassembling a multi-contact connector to a multi-conductor cable in oneoperation and applying a uniform compressive force.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art tools for assembling a multi-contact connector (e.g., 50 to 60contacts) to a multi-conductor cable (e.g., 50 to 60 conductors) fallinto two categories; (1) cantilevered jaw hand tools, or (2) arbor typepresses. The cantilevered jaw hand tools were scissor-like having a pairof extended parallel jaws extending from the handle pivot to the freeends of the jaws. The compressive force, which the jaws could apply toobjects to be assembled, depended upon the location of any assemblypoint with respect to the pivot. If the center of the jaw length was tohave the correct assembly force, then those points closer to the pivotreceived forces in excess of that desired while those points closer tothe jaw free ends received insufficient forces. Also, because of thelarge forces required to make the assembly and the resistive forces ofthe connector and cable, the hand tool has to be able to withstand theresulting deflective forces. To do this, the tool parts had to be strongresulting in a large, heavy and bulky tool not readily usable.

The arbor type press also had to be strong enough to withstand theresistive forces and, accordingly, was large, heavy and bulky.Additionally, the press required a table, or other flat surfacesufficiently strong to support the press and permit the desiredassembly. All of these elements made field installation, or repairs,very difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the difficulties noted above byproviding a hand tool which is light in weight, easily held and used andable to assemble items with uniform installation forces while requiringthat the operator expend a small amount of handle force. The toolconverts the arcuately applied handle forces to axially appliedcompression forces via pivoting links. The movable handle of the tooloperates a drive bar which is connected by pivotable links to the toolframe to move the drive bar in two orthogonal directions. The movablehandle also drives the presser plate, coupled also to the drive bar, tomove the presser plate .[.in two orthogonal directions. The movementsprovided in a plane perpendicular to the axis of closure of the presserplate are opposite in direction and cancel one another out and therebyeliminate any movement of the presser plate in such direction. The othermovements provided are both along the axis of closure of the presserplate and in the same direction thus combining the two movements.]..

The tool has a top frame member and a lower frame member connected atboth ends to eliminate the cantilevered action above described. A platenmatched to the connector cable assembly is coupled to the bottom framemember and the presser bar is coupled to the upper frame member so thatthe axially applied force is applied equally along the entire connectorlength. The connection of the upper and lower frame members at one endis selectively disengaged to permit the platen to be changed whendesired and to permit the tool and a connector to be applied in mid spanof the cable run. It is an object of this invention to provide a novelhand tool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel tool for theassembly of two objects.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel compressiontool capable of applying a uniform compression force along the entirelength of the tool's compression area.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a novelcompression tool wherein arcuate movement of the handle member istranslated into axial movement of a presser plate.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novelcompression tool wherein arcuate movement of the handle member istranslated into axial movement of a presser plate through pivotal links.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novelcompression tool wherein the platen may be changed to match the objectsto be compressed.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novelcompression tool wherein one end member may be selectively opened topermit easy interchange of the platens and to permit midspan connectionto a through cable.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in theaccompanying drawings, which disclose by way of example, the principlesof the invention, and the best mode which has been contemplated forcarrying them out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings in which similar elements are given similar referencecharacters:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance withthe concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the tool of FIG. 1 with the platen andpresser plate removed.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational, partially in section, of the tool, asin FIG. 1 with a face plate removed and fragmented to show the intervaldetails thereof.

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view similar to FIG. 4 showing thetool details in the condition at the completion of an operation.

FIG. 6 is a right front prospective view of the platen of the tool ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a right front prospective view of a further platen for usewith the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a right front prospective view of still a further platen foruse with the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a right prospective view of the tool of FIG. 1 with the platenremoved and the tool in an open condition.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary left front prospective view of the tool of FIG.1 with the tool in an open condition and indicating the manner ofinstallation of a platen on the tool.

FIG. 11 is a right front prospective view of the tool of FIG. 1 showingthe positioning of the tool parts preparatory to receiving a connectorpartially assembled to a flat cable.

FIG. 12 is a right front prospective view of the tool of FIG. 11 inoperation to assemble the connector to the flat cable.

FIG. 13 is a right front prospective view of the tool of FIG. 1 in anopen condition for receipt of a connector and flat cable to terminatethe cable midspan.

FIG. 14 is a right side elevation, with face plate removed, showing amodified tool constructed according to the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation, greatly enlarged showing thefull stroke compelling mechanism of the tool of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a tool 20 constructed in accordancewith the concepts of the invention is shown. A left face plate 22 (seeFIG. 1) has a frame portion 24 and a fixed handle portion 26. Right faceplate 28 (see FIG. 2) similarly has a frame portion 30 and a fixedhandle portion 32. The fixed handle portions 26, 32 are fastenedtogether by fasteners such as 34 spaced along their lengths. Fixedhandle portions 26, 32 are spaced apart by spacers (not shown) to form aunitary fixed handle 36, and may have a grip 38 placed thereover to makehandling and use of tool 20 easier. The frame portions 24, 30 are alsofastened to one another by fasteners 40 and held in spaced apartrelationship adjacent the top edges 42, 44, respectively, thereof, byspacers (not shown) and a nose piece 46 (see FIG. 3). A left insert 48(see FIG. 1) and a right insert 50 (see FIG. 2) are assembled to oneanother with a spacer 49 (see FIG. 4) therebetween and to the heel ofleft frame portion 24 and the heel of right frame portion 30 by thepivot pin 52. A latch bar 54 is placed between inserts 48, 50 and thebar 54 and inserts 48, 50 are joined by pivot pin 56 (see FIG. 3). Thelatch bar 54, as will be described in more detail below, is free topivot about pivot pin 56. Pin 58 also holds inserts 48, 50 and thespacer 49 together. In addition, pin 58, adjacent insert 48 is contouredto a conical shape to act as the platen retaining pin 60 to be describedin greater detail below.

Left movable handle member 62 (see FIG. 1) is assembled to right movablehandle member 64 (see FIG. 2) by means of fasteners 66 and held inspaced apart relationship by spacers (not shown) to form a unitaryhandle 68 which may also have thereon a grip 71. Movable handle 68 ispivoted adjacent one end, as will be described below, and is permittedto move arcuately towards and away from fixed handle 36. The position ofmovable handle 68 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the initial or staticposition. A presser plate 70 is coupled to movable handle 68 and iscaused to be moved axially toward and away from inserts 48, 50 as willbe described below. A platen 72 is positioned on inserts 48, 50. Asshown in FIG. 11, a connector 74 having a top portion 76 and a bottomportion 78 loosely coupled together with a flat cable 80 placedtherebetween is placed in tool 20 so that the bottom portion 78 rests onplaten 72. The movable handle 68 is then operated towards fixed handle36 causing the presser plate 70 to move axially towards platen 72 andcause the connector 74 to close and its contacts (not shown) to engagethe conductors of the flat cable 80 as is shown in FIG. 12.

The platen 72 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is better shown in FIG. 6. The platen 72is formed so that proper support can be given to a connector to bejoined to a cable. Thus, in FIG. 6, platen 72 has a horizontal surface82 upon which a connector base portion can be placed. Two upstandingretaining walls 84, 86 extending upwardly from surface 82 support theconnector against lateral movement out of contact with the platen 72.The retaining wall 84 extends the length of platen 72 but retaining wall86 is shorter to provide access to the connector for the flat cable 80to be assembled to the connector 74 as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Theplaten can be modified as required to match any desired connector, cableor connector-cable arrangement. In FIG. 7, the platen 90 has ahorizontal surface 92 with upstanding retaining walls 94, 96 betweenwhich the connector is placed. As with platen 72 the wall 94 extends thelength of the platen 90 while wall 96 is a partial wall. Platen 90 isarranged to work with a connector of greater height than was platen 72.As a result, to be able to handle a taller connector, the surface 92 ispositioned further below the top surface of wall 94, as shown by thedistance identified as H₂ in FIG. 7, than surface 82 is below the topsurface of wall 84 as shown by the distance identified as H₁ in FIG. 6.Platen 100 as shown in FIG. 8 is another form which is intended toassemble a cable to a connector having exposed contacts extending fromits bottom surface. Horizontal surface 102 is provided with a number ofslots 104 to receive the extending contacts while the lands 106 betweenthe slots 104 support the connector. A single upstanding retaining wall108 is provided. Although three different platen arrangements are shown,it should be understood that any shaped platen can be used consistentwith the tool size and connector-cable arrangement.

To hold the platen in place, each of the platens are fitted with furtherretaining walls 110, 112 which provide therebetween a recess 114 as isshown in FIG. 8. The base of recess 114 is arranged to be supported bythe tops of inserts 48, 50 and the spacer therebetween. The wall 110extends along the outer surface of insert 48 (see FIG. 1) while wall 112extends along the outer surface of insert 50 (see FIG. 2). A flexibleplaten retaining member 116 is fixed within a recess 118 (see FIG. 1) inone side of the platen 100 which extends into retaining wall 110 of FIG.8. The member 116 is fixed to the platen 72 by fastener 120 and has anaperture 122 therein to receive the platen retaining pin 60 and thusretain the platen 72 on the inserts 48, 50. The member 116 is contouredsuch that free end 124 (see FIG. 10) can be deflected by the operator'sfinger or by contact with pin 60 as the platen 72 is installed orremoved. FIG. 10 shows the latch bar 54 disengaged with the inserts 48,50 rotated about pivot pin 52 to facilitate the placement and engagementof the platen 72 with the tool 20.

The latch bar 54, has a slot 125 adjacent its free end (see FIG. 9) andis arranged to receive pin 126 therein. Latch bar 54 is urged bycompression spring 128 (see FIG. 4) between end 51 of spacer 49 and thetapered portion 53 of latch bar 54 in a counterclockwise directionassuring engagement of pin 126 by slot 125. Thus, when it is required toinsert or remove a platen such as 72, the latch bar 54 is rotated awayfrom the pin 126 to disengage slot 125 from pin 126 and permit theinserts 48, 50 and latch bar 54 to rotate exposing the upper surfaces ofinserts 48, 50 and spacer 49 as is shown in FIG. 9. This ability torotate the entire platen area away from the tool face plates 22, 28 alsopermits the tool 20 to be used for midspan joints. In the FIGS. 11 and12, a connector 74 was coupled to the very end of flat cable 80. To usea tool limited to such types of joints would mean that once terminatedthe flat cable could not be tapped unless all previous connectors wereremoved and the tap connector and tool passed along the entire cablelength from one end to the tap location or the flat cable would have tobe cut thus interrupting service on the cable, and each cable endcoupled to connectors and the connectors jumpered. In the instantinvention, tool 20 can be opened as above set forth with respect toFIGS. 4 and 9 and a connector 74 and a flat cable 80 entered into theplaten 72 area through the location normally occupied by latch bar 54 asshown in FIG. 13.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the manner of operation of the tool 20will be set forth. Two pairs of links 130, 132, are coupled at one endby the fasteners 40a, 40b that hold the face plates 22, 28 together.Only one of each pair of links 130, 132 is visible in each of the FIGS.4 and 5. The actual arrangement for the pair of links 130 is face plate22, link 130, a spacer, the second link 130 and the face plate 28. Links132 are arranged similarly except that a reduced width portion 45 ofnose piece 46 takes the place of the spacers. The opposite ends of links130, 132 are connected to a drive bar 134 by means of pivot pins 136.Drive bar 134 is connected by means of pivot pin 138 to the movablehandle 68. In addition, a pivot pin 140 connects movable handle 68 topresser plate 70. Links 142, 144 are coupled by pivot pins 146, 148respectively to drive bar 134. In addition, the links 142, 144 arecoupled to presser plate 70 by pivot pins 146, 148. The effect of thisarrangement of links is to convert the arcuate motion of the movablehandle 68 towards the fixed handle 36 into axial movement along axis 71,of presser plate 70 towards platen 72 using the pivotal movement oflinks 130, 132, 142, 144.

As the movable handle 68 is moved to fixed handle 36, the drive bar 134undergoes two movements. Considering pivot pin 140 to be fixed, merelyfor an understanding of the tool 20 operation the drive bar 134 is movedin the direction of arrow 150 and at the same time is moved downwardlyin the direction of arrow 152. These movements are caused by thestraightening of the links 130, 132 to the positions shown in FIG. 5which places the drive bar 134 to the right and below the position itoccupied as shown in FIG. 4. .[.Now assuming that pivot pin 138 isfixed, the pivot pin 140 causes the presser plate 70 to move to the leftin the direction of arrow 154 and downwardly in the direction of arrow152. The net effect of the rightward movement (in direction of arrow150) of drive bar 134 and the leftward movement (in direction of arrow154) is to retain the presser plate 70 in its desired horizontalposition..]. .Iadd.In the course of movement of drive bar 134, links 142and 144 are caused to assume dispositions also shown in FIG. 5, presserplate 70 being constrained against movement in directions 150 and 154 bya guide comprised of pin 141 and presser plate slot 70a. Presser plate70 is accordingly driven downwardly in the direction of arrow 152..Iaddend.Since the movement of drive bar 134 and presser plate 70 areboth downward (in direction of arrow 152) they are cumulative andtogether provide the movement of presser plate 70 necessary to assemblethe connector and cable. Although for the purposes of the description,the pivots 138 and 140 have been assumed alternately fixed, the actualpivot point is phantom point at a location different from both. It ismerely the connection of links 130, 132 to the face plates 22, 28 bypins 40a and 40b that keeps the movable handle 68 in the tool 20.

To decrease the size of the tool 20 the links 142, 144 are coupled topresser plate 70 within recesses 147, 149. The initial position of thedrive bar 134 is set by a compression spring 151 coupled to drive bar134 at one end and to nose piece 46 on the other. The initial positionof compression spring 151 is set by an adjustable stop 153 in the faceof nose piece 46. As drive bar 134 moves to the left in the direction ofarrow 154 (see FIG. 5), pivot pin 138 causes movable handle 36 to moveto its open position as in FIG. 4 and pivot pin 140 causes presser plate70 to move to the right in the direction of arrow 150. The pivoting ofthe links 130, 132, 142, 144 raises the presser plate 70 to its originalposition and the tool 20 is available for a further termination.

In order to assure that the proper connection between a connector andcable is made and to avoid the possibility that an operator may open thetool 20 before a proper connection is made a device known as a fullstroke compelling mechanism is employed. This mechanism is engaged whenmore than a minimum travel of movable handle 68 towards fixed handle 36has taken place. Once the mechanism is engaged, it is only possible toopen the tool 20 after a specified travel of movable handle 68 has takenplace. This assures a good connection each time. Turning to FIGS. 14 and15, a full stroke compelling mechanism is shown. Coupled to fixed handle36 is a plate 160 with a number of recesses 162 thereon. A pawl 164 ismounted to movable handle 68 by a pivot pin 166. The pawl 164 has a noseportion 168 arranged to engage the recesses 162. The pawl 164 is coupledby tension spring 170 to a fixed pin 172 mounted on movable handle 68.Once nose 168 of pawl 164 engages the first recess 162 pawl 164 cannotbe disengaged from plate 160 until the rear clearance area 174 of plate160 is reached at which time spring 170 will rotate pawl 164counterclockwise about pivot pin 166 disengaging the nose 168 from therecesses 162 and allowing the pawl 164 to pass over the recesses withoutengagement as the movable handle 68 is moved to the open position.

If it is desired to use this tool as a cutting tool, presser plate 70could take the form of a cutting blade and platen 72 be used as ananvil, or both presser plate 70 and platen 72 could both take the formof blades.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferredembodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes of the form and details of the devicesillustrated and in their operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A hand tool for joining two or more objects togethercomprising: a frame member having a first end portion, a second endportion and an intermediate portion therebetween; a movable supportmember having first and second ends, said first end pivotally coupled tosaid intermediate portion of said frame member to permit movement ofsaid support member second end with respect to said frame member secondend portion; a latch bar pivotally coupled to said second end of saidsupport member and releasably coupled to said frame member second endportion to prevent relative movement of said support member with respectto said frame member; handle means having first and second ends, .[.saidsecond end of said handle means pivotally coupled to said intermediateportion of said frame member;.]. presser plate means; first couplingmeans coupled to said presser plate means and said frame member betweensaid intermediate portion and said second end portion; and secondcoupling means coupling said presser plate .Iadd.means .Iaddend.to saidsecond end of said handle means; the arcuate movement of said first endof said handle means towards said first end portion of said frame memberdriving said presser plate .Iadd.means .Iaddend.axially towards saidsupport member.
 2. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said firstcoupling means comprises pivotally mounted links.
 3. A tool as definedin claim 1, wherein said first coupling means comprises a plurality ofpivotally mounted link pairs.
 4. A tool as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid first coupling means comprises a drive bar and pivotally mountedlinks.
 5. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said first couplingmeans comprising a drive bar and a plurality of pivotally mounted links.6. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said first coupling meanscomprises a drive bar and first links each having a first end and asecond end, said first ends of each of said first links pivotallymounted to said frame member and said second ends of each of said firstlinks pivotally mounted to said drive bar.
 7. A tool as defined in claim1, wherein said first coupling means comprises a drive bar .Iadd.and apresser plate.Iaddend.; first links each having a first end and a secondend, said first ends of each of said first links pivotally mounted tosaid frame member and said second ends of each of said first linkspivotally mounted to said drive bar; and second links each having athird end and a fourth end, said third ends of each of said second linkspivotally mounted to said drive bar and each of said fourth ends of saidsecond links pivotally mounted to said presser plate.
 8. A tool asdefined in claim 1 wherein .Iadd.said presser plate means comprises apresser plate;.Iaddend.said second coupling means comprises a pivotedconnection between said second end of said handle means and said presserplate.
 9. A tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said first couplingmeans comprises a drive bar .Iadd.and a presser plate .Iaddend.and firstlinks each having a first and a second end, said first ends of each ofsaid first links pivotally mounted to said frame member and said secondends of each first links pivotally mounted to said drive bar; and saidsecond coupling means comprising a pivotal connection between saidsecond end of said handle means and said presser plate.
 10. A tool asdefined in claim 1, wherein said first coupling means comprises a drivebar .Iadd.and a presser plate.Iaddend.; first links having first andsecond ends, said first ends of each of said first links pivotallymounted to said frame member and said second ends of each of said firstlinks pivotally mounted to said drive bar; second links each having athird and a fourth end, said third ends of each of said second linkspivotally mounted to said drive bar and each of said fourth ends of saidsecond links pivotally mounted to said presser plate; and said secondcoupling means comprising a pivotal connection between said second endof said handle means and said presser plate.
 11. A tool as defined inclaim 1, further comprising a platen selectively installable to saidsupport member, said platen configured to accept and support the objectsto be joined.
 12. A tool as defined in claim 1, further comprising aresilient member urging said latch bar into a locking condition withsaid second end portion of said frame member.
 13. A hand tool forjoining two or more objects together comprising: a frame member having afirst end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portiontherebetween; a support member having first and second ends, said firstend coupled to said intermediate portion and said second end coupled tosaid second end portion; handle means having first and second ends.[.said second end of said handle means pivotally coupled to saidintermediate portion of said frame member.].; .Iadd.a .Iaddend.presserplate .[.means.].; first coupling means coupled to said presser platemeans and said frame member between said intermediate portion and saidsecond end portion; said first coupling means comprising a drive bar;first links having first and second ends, said first ends of each ofsaid first links pivotally mounted to said frame member and said secondends of each of said first links pivotally mounted to said drive bar;second links each having a third and a fourth end, said third ends ofeach of said second links pivotally mounted to said drive bar and eachof said fourth ends of said second links pivotally mounted to saidpresser plate; and second coupling means coupling said presser plate tosaid second end of said handle means; said second coupling meanscomprising a pivotal connection between said second end of said handlemeans and said presser plate and a pivotal connection between saidsecond end of said handle means and said drive bar; the arcuate movementof said first end of said handle means towards said first end portion ofsaid frame member driving said presser plate axially towards saidsupport member. .[.14. A tool as defined in claim 13, wherein thearcuate movement of said first end of said handle means towards saidfirst end portion of said frame member tending to drive said presserplate in a first direction and said drive bar in an oppositedirection..]. .[.15. A tool as defined in claim 13, wherein the arcuatemovement of said first end of said handle means towards said first endportion of said frame member tending to drive said presser plate in afirst direction and said drive bar in an opposite direction, themovements of said presser plate and said drive bar being substantiallyequal in magnitude and cancelling any movement of said presser plate ina plane perpendicular to the axis of movement of the presser platetowards the support member..]. .[.16. A tool as defined in claim 13,wherein the arcuate movement of said first end of said handle meanstowards said first end portion of said frame member tending to drivesaid presser plate in a first direction along the axis of movement ofthe presser plate towards the support member and along an axisperpendicular to said axis of movement and said drive bar in said firstdirection and along an axis perpendicular to said axis of movement andopposite in direction to the movement of said presser plate; themovements of said presser plate and said drive bar being substantiallyequal in magnitude cancelling any movement of said presser plate in aplane perpendicular to the axis of movement of the presser plate towardsthe support member; and the movements of said presser plate and saiddrive bar being in the same direction along said axis, said presserplate is moved a distance equal to the total movement along said axis ofsaid presser plate and said drive bar..]. .Iadd.17. A tool for joiningobjects together, comprising:(a) a frame member having a first endportion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion therebetween;(b) drive bar means for receiving actuating force applied to said toolat said frame member first end portion; (c) first coupling means forinterconnecting said drive bar means to said frame member intermediateportion and for displacing said drive bar means along first and secondmutually orthogonal axes upon such application of actuating force tosaid drive bar means; (d) compression means in said frame member forcontrolling the position of said drive bar means; (e) presser platemeans for engaging said objects; (f) guide means for constrainingmovement of said presser plate means to movement along said first axis;and (g) second coupling means for interconnecting said presser platemeans to said drive bar means for imparting such first axis movement tosaid presser plate means in the course of such displacement of saiddrive bar means along said first and second axes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.The tool as defined in claim 17 including means for adjusting saidcompression means to provide for variation in such positioning of saiddrive bar means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The tool as defined in claim 17wherein said drive bar means comprises drive bar having first and secondends, said drive bar defining at said first end a pivotal connection forsuch actuating force receipt, said compression means comprising a springmember disposed between said drive bar second end and said frame membersecond end portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The tool as defined in claim 19wherein said first coupling means comprises links pivotally connected tosaid frame member intermediate portion and to said drive bar and whereinsaid second coupling means comprises links pivotally connected to saiddrive bar and said presser plate means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The tool asdefined in claim 20 wherein said links of said first coupling means andsaid links of said second coupling means have respective differentattitudes with respect to said first axis in the absence of applicationof actuating force to said drive bar means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The toolas defined in claim 17 further including a support member having firstand second ends, said first end pivotally coupled to said intermediateportion of said frame member and said second end releasably coupled tosaid second end portion of said frame member, and platen means supportedby said support member for engaging said objects. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.The tool as defined in claim 22 wherein said platen means is releasablysecured to said support member. .Iaddend.